The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 4 eBook

They also that will give us away shall attain to those
regions of happiness which will be ours.[376]—­The
puissant Brahman, appearing unto them at the conclusion
of their austerities, gave them the boons they sought,
saying,—­it shall be as ye wish! Do
ye (thus) rescue all the worlds!—­Crowned
with fruition in respect of their wishes, they all
rose up,—­those mothers of both the Past
and the Future. Every morning, people should
bow with reverence unto kine. As the consequence
of this, they are certain to win prosperity.
At the conclusion of their penances O monarch, kine
became the refuge of the world. It is for this
that kine are said to be highly blessed, sacred, and
the foremost of all things. It is for this kine
are said to stay at the very head of all creatures.
By giving away a Kapila cow with a calf resembling
herself, yielding a copious measure of milk, free
from every vicious habit, and covered with a piece
of cloth, the giver attains to great honours in the
region of Brahma. By giving away a cow of red
complexion, with a calf that resembles herself, yielding
milk, free from every vice, and covered with a piece
of cloth, one attains to great honours in the region
of Surya. By giving away a cow of variegated
hue, with a calf similar to herself, yielding milk,
free from every vice, and covered with a piece of
cloth, one attains to great honours in the region
of Soma. By giving away a cow of white complexion,
with a calf similar to herself, yielding milk, free
from every vice, and covered with a piece of cloth,
one attains to great honours in the region of Indra.
By giving away a cow of dark complexion, with a calf
similar to herself, yielding milk, free from every
vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, one attains
to great honours in the region of Agni. By giving
away a cow of the complexion of smoke, with a calf
similar to herself, yielding milk, free from every
vice, and covered with a piece of cloth, one attains
to great honours in the region of Yama. By giving
away a cow of the complexion of the foam of water,
with a calf and a vessel of white brass for milking
her, and covered with a piece of cloth, one attains
to the region of Varuna. By giving away a cow
whose complexion is like that of the dust blown by
the wind, with a calf, and a vessel of white brass
for milking her, and covered with a piece of cloth,
one attains to great honours in the region of the
Wind-god. By giving a cow of the complexion of
gold, having eyes of a tawny hue with a calf and a
vessel of white brass for milking her and covered
with a piece of cloth, one enjoys the felicity of
the region of Kuvera. By giving away a cow of
the complexion of the smoke of straw, with a calf
and a vessel of white brass for milking her, and covered
with a piece of cloth, one attains to great honours
in the region of the Pitris. By giving away a
fat cow with the flesh of its throat hanging down
and accompanied by her calf, one attains with ease
to the high region of the Viswedevas. By giving